Overuse of Antacids

If you have ever felt that burning ache in the pit of your stomach racing up into your chest, you can probably testify to the effectiveness of antacids for pain relief. From Tums to Priolsec and the ever growing variety, anactids are one of the most common drug I see used by my patients. Antacids are so commonly used that most of my patients do not even include them on their list of medications they are currently taking. Noticing numerous GI complaints, a progressively worsening health, ridges in their fingernails indicating malabsorbtion of nutrients, and many other problems I will discover they are taking antacids.
Our bodies are miraculous creations capable of innately curing itself given the proper care. The normal response to food entering the stomach is stimulation of cells that produce HCL. When these cells are stimulated, the normal neurological response is to close the sphincter leading to your esophagus so no acid can enter and cause heartburn. Therefore if you have heartburn it is for two reasons:
1) The sphincter is mechanically compromised.
2) More commonly, there is not enough HCL being produced to stimulate the sphincter to close or stay closed. Poor diets, smoking, medications, hypothyroidism, and other health issues can cause this to occur by slowing down your digestive system (constipation). When this occurs food sits for longer periods of time in your stomach causing the food to putrify and form acid. This acid and not your body's HCL is more likely what causes your heartburn. Food putrification as well as the use of antacids causes the stomach lining to breakdown. The more the stomach lining breaks down, the fewer cells there are to produce HCL causing your digestion to slow even more, causing additional stomach lining breakdown, causing.....hopefully you see the progressively worsening scenario.
When this process occurs you are said to have hypochloridria because there is not enough HCL and other enzymes necessary to break down and utilize foods properly in your stomach. Many nutrients are not properly broken down or absorbed. Calcium requires an acidic environment to be absorbed, over time you will start to develop osteoporosis. Iron absorbs best on an empty stomach in an acidic environment, over time you may develop anemia. These are only a couple of many health disorders that can occur indirectly as a result of long term antacid usage.
Taking antacids for recurring heart burn makes about as much sense as taking Tylenol for a brain tumor. If pain is merely controlled and changes are not made to correct what caused the heartburn to occur, it will not likely heal. Or as one of my favorite quotes goes, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result".

TREATMENT: I would suggest seeking advice from an alternative care physician with experience and knowledge in this area.